Bingo card with pivoted masking tabs

ABSTRACT

A number bearing card having masking tabs pivoted alongside the numbers, the tabs being fastened by snap fasteners which hold the tab in frictional contact with card, whereby the tab is easily moved between number-covering and uncovered positions and held in selected position.

United States Patent [191 Steinle et al.

[451 Dec. 3, 1974 BINGO CARD WITH PIVOTED MASKING TABS [76] Inventors:Paul P. Steinle; Paul R. Steinle, both of 6314 W. Estes Ave., Chicago,Ill. 60646 [22] Filed: Oct. 15, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.: 406,300

116/130, 131, 134, 120; 24/217, 216, 208 A, 108, 73 P, 73 SM; 46/29, 31

Moore et a1. 273/135 BC Herring 273/135 BC FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 10,795 1914 Great Britain 46/31 Primary ExaminerAnton O.Oechsle Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lohn J. Kowalik 5 7 ABSTRACT A numberbearing card having masking tabs pivoted alongside the numbers, the tabsbeing fastened by snap fasteners which hold the tab in frictionalcontact with card, whereby the tab is easily moved betweennumber-covering and uncovered positions and held in [56] ReferencesCited selected position.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 1,860,627 5 1932 Sherman 46/29 3 Drawmg FlguresBINGO CARD WITH PIVOTED MASKING TABS SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART Variousforms of pivoted tabs are known and have been disclosed in US. patentssuch as U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,634,131; 2,230,178; 3,383,112; 2,192,825 andothers. The principal problem resides in the pivot which if initiallytight soon loosens so that the tab swings freely. The pivot hole in thetab and/or the card enlarges and either the tab falls off or the card istorn. If the pivot is upset tight the tab may tear off. Manufacturingusually requires expensive machinery and the entire assembly must becompleted in the factory. For usual inexpensive construction it isnecessary to provide a nonadjustable pivot which comprises a fixedrivet. It must be slightly overtight to compensate for wear and thuscauses excessive rubbing between the parts and thereby accelerates thewear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a novel game andconstruction, and more specifically to a snap type pivot securement of amarker tab to the game board.

A more specific object is to provide a novel snap-type fastener pivotconnection for the marker tab, the connection having interlocking maleand female members which are resiliently sprung against the interveningparts biasing them into frictional contact with each other.

A different object is to provide a novel self-adjusting snap fastenerarrangement for effecting a connection between the marker and card, thefastener being easily DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention isshown applied to a typical Bingo card generally designated 2 comprisinga base 3 which is of rectangular form and has a series of vertically andhorizontally arranged numbers with intervening spaces.

In the spaces, alongside each number, there is positioned a masking tab6 which is generally oval-shape having a wide masking portion 8 at oneend and a narrow anchor portion 10 at the other end. 7

The wide end portion is provided with an upstanding arcuate fingerabutment or catch 12 for engagement by the players finger in pivotingthe tab about a pivot opening 14 by which the tab is anchored at itsnarrow end portion 10 to the card base 3. The tab is movable from anuncovering position to a coveringposition of the adjacent number whenthe announcer calls a picked number corresponding to one on the card aswell-known.

The tab may be of colored or clear or irridescent or fluorescent plasticmaterial or opaque and may be of plastic material such as polyethyleneor polypropylene or the like, and, preferably in the region of the pivotopening 14 on its top side 16. The tab is roughened at 18 while thebottom side 20 of the tab about the opening is smooth and engages andslides upon a smooth upper surface 22 of the card base 3, The topsurface at 18 provides a relatively high coefficent of friction which isengaged by an overlying disk-like snap element 24 of a combination,preferably metalic, fastener and pivot assembly generally designated 25.

The assembly 25 comprises the female snap element 24 which is centrallydished and has a peripheral bead 26 and a segmented hub-like centralportion 28, the segments 30,30 of which are spring-like and transverselyresilient and define a central aperture 32. A bulbous end portion 34 onthe distal end of a shank portion 36 of a male element 38 of thefastener assembly is adapted to pass through the aperture 32 forsecuring the fastener or removing the fastener. The shank portion 36passes through the pivot aperture 32 and through an opening 40 in thecard base 3, which also may be of plastic material such as the tab. Theshank portion is centrally affixed to a head 42 which is an annulardished structure having its upper face 44 in engagement with a roughenedsurface area 46 on the underface 48 of the card. It will be appreciatedthat in lieu of roughening the areas 18 and 46, materials providing ahigh coefficient of friction may be adhered to one or both oftheopposing surfaces.

Thus the tab swings about the shank freely and is restrained by thefastener from freely swinging. Also the fastener, in having thesegmented center section 28 with resilient spring sections causes theparts to be held together under adjustable pressure and provides atakeup for any wear occuring between the tab and the top of the card inthe region of the pivot aperture 14. In addition, since it is relativelyeasy to snap different tabs on and off, replacement of worn parts or theaddition of shims is relatively easy.

Thus not only has a durable card been provided, but one which may beeasily manufactured and also is equally easily repaired. The card iseasily cleared for replay and the tab when marking a number isreleasably retained in position.

Also, since the tabs are easily removed, a handicap play is possible byremoving certain tabs for one or several rows of numbers, which thenmake that row unplayable. The permutations thus may be increased withoutthe necessity of distributing different cards.

Inasmuch as various modifications will now become apparent within thescope of the invention concept disclosed, it is not intended thatprotection of said invention should be interpreted as limited to theprecise embodiment as has been particularly described, defined, orexemplified, since this disclosure is intended to explain theconstruction and operation of such concepts, and not for the purpose oflimiting the protection thereof, but should be interpreted within thebroadest aspects as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A bingo card marrking device comprising;

a base element having top and bottom sides and having on the top side aseries of numerals arranged in horizontal and vertical rows;

a masking element tab adjacent to each numeral;

a snap fastener pivotally securing each tab to the base element andcomprising a shank extending through said elements and having a head atone end opposing said base element at the bottom thereof;

means providing a high coefficient of friction between the head and thebottom side of said base element resisting turning of the fastenerduring normal pivotal movements of the tab element to covering anduncovering positions with reference to the adjacent numeral;

a snap removably fastened to said shank and embracing the respective tabelement with the top side of the base element;

means providing a high coefficient of friction between the tab elementand the snap to resist pivotal movement of the tab element with respectto said snap and said tab element and said top said of the base elementhaving smooth engaging interfaces for accommo- 3. The inventionaccording to claim 1 and said means providing high coefficient offriction comprising materials of such characteristics adhered torespective elements.

4. The invention according to claim 1 and said tab elements being madeof polyethylene and having a relatively low coefficient of friction.

1. A bingo card marrking device comprising; a base element having topand bottom sides and having on the top side a series of numeralsarranged in horizontal and vertical rows; a masking element tab adjacentto each numeral; a snap fastener pivotally securing each tab to the baseelement and comprising a shank extending through said elements andhaving a head at one end opposing said base element at the bottomthereof; means providing a high coefficient of friction between the headand the bottom side of said base element resisting turning of thefastener during normal pivotal movements of the tab element to coveringand uncovering positions with reference to the adjacent numeral; a snapremovably fastened to said shank and embracing the respective tabelement with the top side of the base element; means providing a highcoefficient of friction between the tab element and the snap to resistpivotal movement of the tab element with respect to said snap and saidtab element and said top said of the base element having smooth engaGinginterfaces for accommodating pivotal movement therebetween with minimalwear.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 and said snap havingresilient portions reacting against the shank and biasing said snapagainst said tab element and the latter toward the top side of the baseelement for taking up wear therebetween and holding the fastener incooperative engagement with the tab and the base elements.
 3. Theinvention according to claim 1 and said means providing high coefficientof friction comprising materials of such characteristics adhered torespective elements.
 4. The invention according to claim 1 and said tabelements being made of polyethylene and having a relatively lowcoefficient of friction.